Cats and Diabetes - Part 2 of 2: Home Treatment

Last week, we explored the risk factors for feline diabetes, including those that are preventable. This week, we'll focus on how to tell if your cat may have diabetes and, if diagnosed, how to effectively treat it.

Diabetes in cats cannot be cured. But with patience and commitment, it can be treated at home, even if insulin injections are needed. It's easier and less expensive than you might think, and the benefits are dramatic. One study showed that nearly 85% of diabetic cats treated at home achieved diabetic remission, so they no longer needed insulin and went on to live long, healthy lives.

Watch for These Signs
Early diagnosis and treatment may up your cat's chances for diabetic remission. If you notice your cat doing any of the following, have his blood and urine tested right away:

• Urinating frequently
• Drinking all the time
• Eating way more than usual
• Losing weight, despite increased appetite
• Having bad breath
• Acting sluggish and lethargic

Explore Treatment Options
Not all diabetic cats need insulin injections, but between 50% and 70% do. If your cat has been diagnosed with diabetes, ask your vet about the following in-home treatments:

• Diet, exercise, and weight control -- As with preventing the onset of diabetes, implementing these three factors, especially a low-carb/high-protein diet, is critical for managing high blood sugar and achieving diabetic remission. Read last week's diabetes prevention tip for more details.

• Oral hypoglycemic medication or insulin injections. Some diabetic cats need oral medication only, but many others need insulin shots, at least temporarily. Some studies suggest that cats treated specifically with glargine (a type of insulin) may be most likely to attain diabetic remission.
  *Note: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued a warning on Vetsulin®, a different type of insulin drug. Read more about this FDA warning, and contact your vet immediately if your pet is being treated with this medication.)

• In-home glucose monitoring. Because a cat's blood sugar changes with time and treatment, so will his need for insulin, making daily glucose monitoring vital. An accidental overdose of insulin can lead to extremely low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), a potentially life-threatening condition. Fortunately, in-home blood glucose monitoring is less expensive, more accurate, and way less stressful for your cat than in-clinic monitoring.